Electrical switches



y 1961 F. N. ANDERSON ETAI. I 2,993,102

ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed Aug. 3, 1959 INVENTORS. 2 M/ALTER A. CHER/QM 5 y f'REp M ANDERSON United States Patent 2,993,102 ELECTRICAL SWITCHES Fred N. Anderson and Walter L. Cherry, Jr., Highland Park, Ill., assignors to Cherry Electrical Products Corp., Highland Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,141 I'Claim. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electrical switches and more particularly to a snap-action type switch.

An important object of this invention is the provision in a switch of this character of an arrangement of parts which are suitable for encasement within a small compact housing.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of a switch blade actuator which assures proper snap action movement of a bowed switch blade to an actuated position and a like snap return movement of the blade to a normal position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a snapaction switch which is similar in construction, economical in manufacture, and highly elficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved electrical switch of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the switch with the cover plate removed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the parts in an actuated position; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the parts of this invention in exploded relation with respect to each other.

Our improved invention comprises a housing having a removable side plate 11. One end wall 12 of the housing 10 has formed therein three vertically aligned channels 13, 14 and 15. These channels 13, 14 and 15 have open communication with a cavity 16 formed within the housing 10. These channels have open communication with the open side of the housing 10 and are normally closed by a portion of the cover 11 which is mounted to the housing 10 by means of a screw 17 or the like.

Positionable within channels 13 and 15 are a pair of like terminal members 18 and 19. These members 18 and 19 are provided with laterally extending lugs 20 and 21 respectively which lugs are adapted to be inserted into apertures 22 and 23 formed in the housing 10. Referring to FIGS' 2, 3 and 4 it should be noted that the apertures 22 and 23 are horizontally disposed and are in communication with the channels 13 and 15.

When the terminal members 18 and 19 are positioned in their predetermined relation with respect to the housing 10, they each will have a free end 24 and 25 respectively positioned in spaced apart relation \m'thin the cavity 16. These free ends 24 and 25- of the terminal members 18 and 19 are provided with like contacts 26 and 27.

The opposite ends of the terminal members 18 and 19 are positioned exterior of the housing 10 and provide for suitable electrical connections 'to electrical connectors, not shown.

Positionable in channel 14 is a base support member 28. This member 28 has one end extending inwardly into the cavity 16 between the terminal members 18 and 19. This inner end of the base support member 28 has its horizontally extending edge V-grooved as at 29.

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Within the cavity 16 we provide a mounting block 30 which is formed as an integral part of the housing 10. One wall of this block 30 is grooved as at 31.

Within the cavity 16 we provide a flexible actuator 32. This actuator 32 has one end thereof bent back upon itself in a spaced relation. This end 33 of the actuator 32 is positioned in the groove 31 formed in the block 30.

The actuator 32 at its end opposite end 33 provides a depending resilient arm 34. This arm 34 has one face thereof indented so as to form a V-groove 35. The vertical edges of the V-groove 35 are notched inwardly as seen in FIG. 4 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The arm 34 of the actuator 32 is normally positioned in a spaced relation with respect to the ends 24 and 25 of the terminal members 18 and 19. The V-groove 35 of the arm 34 is adapted to be positioned in a horizontal plane which is slightly above the horizontal plane of the base support member 28 when it is positioned in channel 14 as viewed in FIG. 2.

A switch blade 36 having a longitudinal length greater than the distance between the notched end 29 of the base supporting member 28 and the notch 35- formed in the arm 34, is shown on FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The switch blade 36 is so proportioned and so dimensioned that it must be flexed into a bowed formation so as to extend between the arm 34 and the base supporting member 28. In such bowed condition a portion thereof is in engagement with the contact 27 of the terminal 19. The switch blade 36 is maintained in such bowed condition by the resilient tension of the arm 34 exerting a compression in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 against the longitudinal length of the switch blade 36.

A movable plunger 37 is provided in the housing 10. This plunger 37 is adapted to move vertically through opening 38 formed in the top wall of the housing 10. A lower portion of the plunger 3-7 is adapted to engage the actuator 32 and cause the same to be bent downwardly about its connection with the block 30. Such downward movement of the plunger 37 and the actuator 32 will cause the arm 34 to move in a likewise downward direction. Such movement of the arm 34 will cause the point of connection between the switch blade 36 and the arm 34 to pass beneath the horizontal plane of the switch blade 36. Such movement of the arm 34 will cause the switch blade 36 to attain its full longitudinal length. The attaining of such condition of the switch blade 36 is against the resiliency of the arm 34 and will cause such arm 34 to move in a lateral direction simultaneously with its downward movement. From the foregoing description it is readily apparent that the end of the switch blade 36 that is seated in the groove 35 of the arm 34 will move thru a substantially vertical arcuated path.

When the moving end of the switch blade 36 passes beneath a point where it has attained its full longitudinal length, the resilient pressure of the arm 34 is sufficient to cause the switch blade 36 to bow in an opposite direction. Such bowing in an opposite direction will cause the contact 39 carried by the switch blade 36 to engage the contact 26 of the terminal member 18.

Upon release of the plunger 37 the actuator 32 will flex back into its original position and cause a reverse action on the part of the switch blade 36 and the arm 34.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that our invention results in a positive snap-action movement of the contact bearing switch blade 36.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A snap-action switch comprising a housing having an open side and provided with a cavity, a removable cover for said open side, terminal members carried by the housing with corresponding end portions extending exterior thereof and opposite corresponding end portions extending into said cavity, said terminal members being spaced with respect to each other, an elongated substantially rigid member carried by the housing between and in spaced relation with respect to said terminal members and having an end portion extending into the cavity and provided with a transversely extending groove, a resilient elongated actuator having an end portion provided with a reverse bend with the bend seated in a seat provided by the housing and having an opposite end portion extending substantially at right angles to the first mentioned 20 end portion and the ends of said terminal within said cavity and in spaced relation with respect to the latter and providing a transversely extending seat, an elongated flexible switch blade positioned between said terminal members with one end portion engaging the seat of the rigid member and an opposite end portion engaging the seat of said opposite end portion of said actuator, said switch blade being of a length greater than the distance between said seats whereby said switch blade will be bowed from its long axis, and an actuating member carried by said housing and engaging said actuator substantially at the point of junction between the end portion thereof positioned above said terminal and the said opposite end portion which extends substantially at right angles with respect to said first end portion, said right angularly extending portion of said actuator cooperating with said rigid member to effect snap-action movement of said switch blade on opposite sides of its long axis when said actuator is actuated by said actuating member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,743,332 Torres Apr. 24, 1956 2,853,573 Wang Sept. 23, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 869,551 France Nov. 7, 1941 

